Dr. Robin Blackstone's specialties are general surgery and bariatric surgery. She has received a 4.0 out of 5 star rating by her patients. Dr. Blackstone is an in-network provider for several insurance carriers, including Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic. She studied medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, School of Medicine. She trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of Colorado Denver for her residency. She has received professional recognition including the following: Phoenix Super Doctors. Dr. Blackstone is professionally affiliated with Banner Health.

Dr. Robert Riley is a thoracic surgery specialist. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Banner Boswell Medical Center and Banner Thunderbird Medical Center. Dr. Riley studied medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine. For his professional training, Dr. Riley completed a residency program at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. His average rating from his patients is 4.5 stars out of 5. He accepts Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic, in addition to other insurance carriers.

Dr. Kevin Brady is a cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeon in Phoenix, AZ. He graduated from Emory University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at a hospital affiliated with the University of Louisville, a hospital affiliated with the University of Kentucky, and a hospital affiliated with Emory University. Dr. Brady is an in-network provider for Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, Humana Catastrophic, and more. He is professionally affiliated with Banner - University Medical Center Phoenix, Banner Boswell Medical Center, and Banner Thunderbird Medical Center.

Dr. Gary Weiner is an orthopedics/orthopedic surgery specialist in Scottsdale, AZ. His average rating from his patients is 5.0 stars out of 5. Areas of expertise for Dr. Weiner include arthroscopic surgery, replacement arthroplasty (joint replacement), and pain. Dr. Weiner accepts Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic, in addition to other insurance carriers. He studied medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), School of Medicine. Dr. Weiner trained at Phoenix Orthopaedic Residency Program and a hospital affiliated with the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) for residency.

Dr. Gary Waslewski is a specialist in orthopedics/orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Patients gave him an average rating of 3.0 stars out of 5. Dr. Waslewski honors Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic, in addition to other insurance carriers. Before performing his residency at the University Medical Center, Tucson, Dr. Waslewski attended Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine. He has received professional recognition including the following: Phoenix Super Doctors. Dr. Waslewski's practice is open to new patients.

Dr. Ali Mosharrafa's specialty is plastic surgery. These areas are among Dr. Mosharrafa's clinical interests: eyelid surgery, thigh lift, and general reconstruction. He has received a 3.5 out of 5 star rating by his patients. Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Mosharrafa accepts. He attended medical school at Baylor College of Medicine. His training includes a residency program at a hospital affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Mike Janicek practices gynecologic oncology in Scottsdale, AZ. Before performing his residency at a hospital affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Janicek attended Harvard Medical School. His patients gave him an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars. Dr. Janicek is in-network for Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, Humana Catastrophic, and more. He has received professional recognition including the following: Phoenix Super Doctors. Dr. Janicek is conversant in German.

Dr. Thomas Mattioni's areas of specialization are adult cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology (heart rhythm); he sees patients in Scottsdale, AZ, Phoenix, AZ, and Paradise Valley, AZ. Dr. Mattioni attended Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine and then went on to complete his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Chicago and a hospital affiliated with Northwestern University. He accepts Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic, in addition to other insurance carriers. He is affiliated with Banner Health and Scottsdale Healthcare.

Dr. Leo Stinnett is a medical specialist in general surgery. Patient reviews placed Dr. Stinnett at an average of 4.5 stars out of 5. He accepts several insurance carriers, including Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic. He graduated from Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Stinnett's medical residency was performed at Maricopa Medical Center and a hospital affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He speaks Spanish. He is professionally affiliated with Banner Health Clinic, Banner Baywood Medical Center, and Banner Health Center.

Dr. David Riggio is a specialist in cardiac electrophysiology (heart rhythm). Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Riggio honors. He attended the University of Southern California (USC), Keck School of Medicine and subsequently trained at Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center for residency. He is affiliated with Banner Health.

Dr. Gregory Evangelista, who practices in Scottsdale, AZ, is a medical specialist in orthopedic trauma. Areas of expertise for Dr. Evangelista include knee problems, arthroscopic surgery, and replacement arthroplasty (joint replacement). After completing medical school at New York University (NYU) School of Medicine, he performed his residency at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. On average, patients gave Dr. Evangelista a rating of 2.5 stars out of 5. Dr. Evangelista honors Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic, as well as other insurance carriers. He has an open panel.

Dr. Steven Turkeltaub practices plastic surgery. After attending Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Turkeltaub completed his residency training at Jackson Memorial Medical Center, UMass Memorial Medical Center, and a hospital affiliated with Northwestern University. His clinical interests include eyelid surgery, thigh lift, and general reconstruction. Patient reviews placed him at an average of 5.0 stars out of 5. He is an in-network provider for Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, Humana Catastrophic, and more.

Dr. Deborah Trojanowski's area of specialization is plastic surgery. Her clinical interests include eyelid surgery, thigh lift, and general reconstruction. Dr. Trojanowski has a 4.5 out of 5 star average patient rating. She honors several insurance carriers, including Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic. She studied medicine at Penn State College of Medicine. Dr. Trojanowski's training includes a residency program at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital.

Dr. Richard Brown works as a plastic surgeon. Dr. Brown's education and training includes medical school at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago Medical School and residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago and McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. These areas are among his clinical interests: eyelid surgery, thigh lift, and general reconstruction. He is rated 5.0 stars out of 5 by his patients. Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Brown takes. He is professionally affiliated with Banner Boswell Medical Center.

Dr. Mark Wang is a physician who specializes in spine surgery and orthopedics/orthopedic surgery. On average, patients gave Dr. Wang a rating of 5.0 stars out of 5. Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Wang takes. He is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine and a graduate of Stanford Hospital & Clinics' residency program.

Dr. James Rula works as a general surgeon. He is professionally affiliated with Advanced Surgical Associates and Banner Desert Medical Center. He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. Dr. Rula completed his residency training at Phoenix Integrated Surgical Residency. Dr. Rula has a 3.0 out of 5 star average patient rating. He is in-network for several insurance carriers, including Humana HMO, Humana Bronze, and Humana Catastrophic. He has received professional recognition including the following: Phoenix Super Doctors.

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What is Minimally Invasive Surgery?

Minimally invasive surgery is surgery performed using tiny tools and several small incisions instead of one large one. First performed in the 1980s, minimally invasive surgery has now become commonly used for all kinds of procedures because it offers so many benefits over traditional surgery.

Since minimally invasive surgery minimizes the amount of injury that a patient experiences by avoiding a large incision, it typically results in fewer issues after surgery. There tend to be fewer stitches needed, less scarring, less pain, a faster recovery time, and a lower risk of infection. Some minimally invasive procedures even require less anesthesia than usual.

There are three main types of minimally invasive surgery:

Laparoscopic surgery, where several small incisions are made. A tiny camera is inserted into one, and the surgeon looks at the procedure on a video screen while moving tools through the other openings.

Endoscopic surgery, which is performed using an endoscope. An endoscope is a thin, hollow tube that contains a camera. It can be inserted either through a small incision or an existing opening such as the nose. Tiny tools can be passed through the tube to the area that needs to be worked on.

Robotic surgery, which uses tools that are even smaller and more precise than laparoscopic tools. The tools and camera are inserted through a small opening, and then the surgeon controls the robot from a computer in another room.

Minimally invasive surgery is not the right choice in every situation. However in many cases, it makes surgery less difficult to handle.